PANDAS: A Guide for Parents

PANDAS is an abbreviation that refers to "pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders related to streptococcal infections. It involves sudden and often major changes in personality, behavior, and movement in children. Some children develop sudden physical and mental side effect half a month after contamination. When they begin, these side effects will in general quickly deteriorate. PANDAS is an uncommon condition and roughly one of every 2,000 youngsters are affected.

Symptoms and signs of PANDAS:

The indications of PANDAS begin all of a sudden, around four to six weeks after a strep infection. They include behaviours similar to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and Tourette syndrome. Regularly the manifestations may decline amid streptococcal contaminations and enhance in the middle.

Psychological symptoms may be like:

•          obsessive, compulsive, and repetitive behaviours
•         separation anxiety, fear, and panic attacks
•          incessant screaming, irritability, and frequent mood changes

Physical symptoms may include:

•         Sensitivities to light, sound, and touch
•          Poor handwriting
•          Hyperactivity or an inability to focus
•          Memory issues
•          Sleeping Trouble
•          Refusing to eat
•          Joint pain

Is it possible to prevent PANDAS?

Treatment of PANDAS is commonly equivalent to the standard medications for TS and OCD. Most children will initially be seen by their paediatrician when symptoms develop. Further management refers to a psychiatrist or other mental-health professional who can prescribe medication and provide cognitive behavioural therapy.

A diagnosis of PANDAS needs a careful medical history and physical examination as well. The criteria for analysis are:

•          being between three years of age and adolescence
•         sudden beginning or intensifying of officially existing side effects, and side effects winding up increasingly serious for timeframes
•          presence of over the top impulsive practices, tic issue, or both

Pediatrician may also recommend intravenous immunoglobulin therapy. This method utilizes healthy donor blood plasma products to help boost your child's immune system.

More examinations should be performed to make certain that the preventive treatment is genuinely compelling. Surgical removal of the tonsils and adenoids has not appeared to be viable in avoiding PANDAS and is subsequently not prescribed.